Traditional gender roles in Mexico can often be distinguished in spatial terms one of them being la calle (the street) and La Casa (the home) (UND). This means that men are free to leave the family home as they chose, whether it is to work, or for pleasure. Women on the other hand are ideally placed in the home as amas de la casa (housewives/homemakers). The women takes care of the children's wellbeing, and the wellbeing of the home. Symbolically la calle is considered to be the man’s space. A woman seen “en la calle” (on the street) alone are reprimanded for being there without the presence of their husband. Men however are able to leave the home often because part of their gender role is to the support system of the family by providing income and putting food on the table (UND). Machismo and marianismo are two other gender role descriptions used within the Mexican culture to describe gender roles. These descriptions “dictate certain expectorations for members of the community,” (Global Security). Machismo places a high value on manliness. Men are expected to be independent and the dominant figure in the family. Machismo is also a way of asserting the power of men over women, but it is also a way in which men assert power amongst themselves. One of man’s greatest offenses could be to not be macho (not act like a man), so men use machismo to show their masculinity. Studies have shown that machismo has much to do with men who suffer from job insecurities. “Men suffer from job insecurities and compensate for their feelings of inferiority by exaggerating their masculinity and by subordinating women,” (Global Security). Marianismo on the other hand refers to femininity and to the ideals that women are modest, restrained, virtuous, and nurturing. This term also refers to a women’s role as a mother, which is viewed as more important as her role as a wife because in the Mexican culture, women are to be the caretakers for the entire family before putting themselves ahead. Some women are said to support machismo by being submissive to men, dependent to them, and passive. Although a women’s gender role still hold similar values as it did decades ago, their role in society and in the family dynamic are changing and evolving with time itself. Although much of the gender role ideal still remain prevalent in Mexican culture, immigration and time itself has evolved the ideals. The demographics of women has been changing in the Mexican work force. Immigration has had a great impact on this because as men migrate to the United States in search of employment, more and more women are being left alone in their native. This allows them to take on the responsibilities of the men while they are away from home. Time itself has also changed gender roles but has not completely abolished them. There are now modernized gender roles due to the modernization of society. Modern influences for both men and women has encouraged individuals to shift their gender roles to less prevalent and it has given both men and women the opportunity to expand their horizons. Being that I grew up in a family that has had both Mexican and American influences, I feel as though has been the main factor in the evolution of gender roles. Mexico is far more traditional country than the United States and that has reflected the way my mother and father have expressed their gender role “duties”. For example, my father is the main provider for our household which is traditional in Mexican culture, but my mother also does her part in providing for me and my siblings, something that was unheard of decades ago in the Mexican community. I think that those families who have emigrated from Mexico to the United States have had a better chance to explore and take on roles outside of those that are accepted in the Mexican community. I am surprised to learn how machismo has more to do with a man insecurities than it does with his masculinity. I find it ironic that because of their sensitivities and insecurities, men developed machismo (something that defines manliness and denies a man’s sensitivity) as a way to show others that they are big and mighty. I feel as though that idea in and of itself contradicts the true meaning of machismo. Works Cited Military. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from Global Security http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/mexico/machismo.htmWomen Men and the Changing Role of Gender in Immigration. (n.d.). Retrieved February 24, 2015, from University of Notre Dame https://latinostudies.nd.edu/assets/95245/original/3.3_gender_migration.pdf

I really enjoyed reading this blog, Denisse! My attention was caught right away after the first few sentences when you said that men in Mexico are free to leave the family home as they choose. I never knew that was common, especially in that country. Also, the women in Brazil (my country of choice) work just as hard as men, but also have the reputation of staying at home, taking care of the children and the home just like the women in Mexico. It is silly have women still have this reputation, right!?

Your blog post was awesome! I found it really interesting to learn about the roles men and women play in Mexico and to read how these "roles" have changed just slightly overtime. Isn't it crazy how so many countries have experienced the same circumstances with men and women? In my country, Paraguay, women also would stay at home and raise children while the men got to leave the house and function in society. The world needs strong women out it the world, contributing not only in the household but in the community as well!